Bowling-alley ball.



N0- 838, 026. PATENTED' DEC. 11, 1906.

G. HOLLAND.

BOWLING ALLEY BALL. APPLICATION FILED APB.20,1906.

HIT/NORRIS PIYKRS cm. WAININFIGN. n. c.

PATENTED DEC. 11; 1906. Y

0. HOLLAND. BOWLING ALLEY BALL. APPLIOATIOR FILED APR. 20, inos.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

CURTIS HOLLAND, OF BUTTE, MONTANA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO GYRENUS H.SMITH AND JOSEPH ADAMS, OF BUTTE, MONT-ANA.

BOWLING-ALLEY BALL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 11, 1906.

Application filed April 20, 1906. Serial No. 312,904.

citizen of the United States, residing in Butte, countyof Silverbow,State of Montana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inBowling-Alley Balls, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The elimination of the ancient crudities and the most undesirablefeatures of the bowling-alley ball of the present day has brought outmany methods and manners calculated to be beneficial; but the suggestedimprovements have so far failed to a certain extent in overcomingunnatural'strains due to the handling and delivery of the ball. Forcenturies a solid ball of stone was used, which later was substituted byone of solid wood. The next improvement was the boring of finger andthumb holes, providing for a much better grip for the hand and a greatercontrol over the delivery of the ball. However, the finger-holes stillleave much to be desired, since they disturb somewhat the balance andalso break the spherical surface of the ball. Since there is greatvariation both in size and spread of different human hands, it isessential that provision be made to accommodate many, thus necessitatingan unwarranted expense in the manufacture of the balls and also greatlyadding to the stock and cost of outfitting a bowling-alley.

The finger-holes quite often cause severe strains to the fingers andespecially to the thumb and, further, produce unsightly calluses andsores which are slow in healing, thus depriving one from the enjoymentof the game for days and even Weeks at a time.

The main object of this invention is to overcome the unnatural strainsincident with the use of. the finger-holes and other forms provided forthe manipulation of a bowlingalley ball and to provide means forobviating very materially an unnecessary discomfort most commonlyexperienced by bowlers.

Other objects are to provide for abowlingalley ball having a perfectlysmooth and unbroken surface, while still further providing means withinitself for a freer and easier control anddelivery of the ball.

To overcome the undesirable features found in the common bowling-alleyball, I provide a ball with an extensible and retractable spade-shapedhandle, deeming it the most natural shape for the hand, while presentingthe least possible chance for causing soreness or injury in the handlingand delivery of the ball. design the thumb is relieved of all strain,and the weight of the ball is supported by the several fingers of thehand as one would grasp the handle of a satchel, and the ball may beWith a handle of this delivered by the natural swing of the arm Iwithout necessitating the quarter-turn of the forearm, as. required indelivering a ball having finger-holes. great satisfaction with a handleof this design, as they in no way interfere with the Gloves may be wornwith handling of the ball and, further, provide a sanitary featureappealing most especially to women.

' A bowling-alley ball constructed in accordance with my invention isshown in the accompanying drawings, in whioh Figure 1 is a verticalsection showing the handle drawn out for use. Fig. 2 is a side view ofthe handle, while Figs. 3 and 4 show cross-sectional and end views,respectively.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section showing the handle i as normally retractedand inclosed within the ball. Fig. 61s a top plan view of a portion ofthe surface of the ball, showing the handle inclosed therein. Fig. 7 isa plan view of the lower portion of the ball, showing the spindle endand finger-button.

In the said drawings, 1 represents a bowling-alley ball having acountersunk rectangular-shaped chamber 6 at the top to conform with therectangular-frame-shaped or spade-shaped handle 2, which is normallyincased therein. 11, 12, and 13 represent a bore of difierent diametersextending downward from the rectangular-shaped chamber 6 and extendingaxially entirely through the remaining por tion of the ball. This boreforms a chamber for the reception of the handle-spindle 7 and for thespiral retracting-spring 8, one end of which bears against the shoulder14, formed within the ball, while the opposite and lower end bearsagainst thefinger nut or button 9, secured to the lowermost end of thehandlespindle 7. This arrangement serves to normally retain the handlewithin the ball, as shown in Fig. 5, and also permitsit to be drawn outby hand until the finger-button 9 comes in contact with the shoulder 15,also formed within the ball, which formsastop I toprevent the furtheroutward movement of the handle, as shown in Fig. 1. To enable the handleto be easily drawn out is the object of having the bore extend entirelythrough the ball and the bringing of the finger-button 9 approximatelyflush with the lower surface of the ball. A slight upward pressure ofthe finger on this button causes the handle 2 to emerge sufficiently tobe grasped by the tact with the alley as the ball rolls thereover.

A still further provision against injury to the alley is attained bybushing the top of the handle 2 with rawhide, leather, or composition,as shown by 3. This bushing also serves to form a better grip for thehand, while at the same time lessening the weight at that end of theball, which would otherwise be excessive were the handle made entirelyof metal and would therefore greatly disturb the equilibrium of theball. The lower portion of the bushing 3 is dovetailed, as shown by 4,and fits into the dovetail slot 5 in the upper surface of therectangularframe-shaped handle 2. A little cement applied to the bushingbefore inserting it in the slot serves adequately to secure it therein,though it is obvious that both dovetailed portions may be dispensed withand the bushing secured by other means such, for instance, as by screwsor rivets.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the spindle 7 as being a continuation of therectangular-frameshaped handle 2 and having a finger nut or button 9either screwed or riveted to the low ermost port on of the said spindle.In Fig. 5 the spindle 7 and finger-button9 are shown as one piece, whichmay be either screwed or riveted to the rectangular-frame-shaped han dle2, as desired. In Fig. 5 I also show that the bore 12 may be continuedthrough to the rectangular shaped chamber 6, providing that portion ofthe bore below the said chamber 6 with a bushing 16, the lower end ofwhich serves as a bearing 14 for the retracting-spring 8.

As before stated, the finger nut or button 9 may be either screwed orriveted to the spindle 7, though it is preferable to use the formermethod, in which case both parts are provided with threaded portions.

In order to screw the finger nut or button 9 to the spindle 7 or forscrewing the spindle to the rectangular-frame-shaped handle 2, I providethe holes 10, as shown in Figs. 1. and 7, whereby a wrench adapted forthe purpose may be inserted and the parts thus securely tightened.

It is obvious that the finger-button 9 may be provided with a slot 17like the eye of a screw, permitting thereby the use of a commonscrew-driver, which would be preferable to the holes 10 in case thespindle and button were of one piece, as shown in Fig. 5.

I am aware that changes in the form and proportions of parts and detailof construction may be made without departing from the spirit orsacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right tomake I all changes in the construction and arrangements of the parts ofmy improved bowlingalley ball which fall within the scope of myinvention.

I am also aware of prior inventions providing foran extensible handlefor bowlingalley balls, but know of none having the features andadvantages heretofore described or the novel arrangements and inventionsset out in the following claims. 7

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new therein,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A bowling-alley ball having a hole ex tending axially entirelythrough said ball, the upper portion of said hole being of'larger sizeand rectangular in shape. 2. A bowling-alley ball having a hole extending axially entirely through said ball, the upper portion of saidhole being of larger size and rectangular in shape, while the lower andremaining portion of said hole forms a circular chamber or bore ofdifferent diameters.

3. A bowling-alley ball having an extensible and retractable memberextending axi ally entirely through said ball.

4. A bowling-alley ball having an extensible and retractable memberextending axially entirely through said ball, the upper portion of saidmember forming a handle of a rectangular-frame-shaped construction.

5. A bowling-alley ball having an extensible and retractable memberextending axially entirely through said ball, the upper por tion of saidmember forming a handle of a rectangularframeshaped construction havinga dovetail slot in the said upper portion.

6. A bowling-alley ball having anextensible and retractable memberextending axially entirely through said ball, the.upper portion of saidmember forming a handle of a rectangular-frame-shaped constructionhaving a dovetail slot, and a bushing secured to the uppermost portionof the handle and within the said slot.

7. A bowling-alley ball having an extensible and retractable memberextending axially entirely through said ball, the upper portion of saidmember forming a handle of a rectangular-flamc-shaped construction,while the lower and remaining portion of'said member forms a shaft orspindle projecting downward from said rectangular-shaped portion.

8. A bowling-alley ball having an extensible and retractable memberextending axially entirely through said ball, the upper portion of saidmember forming a handle of a rectangular-frameshaped construction, whileally entirely through said ball, the upper por-- tion of said memberforming a handle of a rectangular-frame-shaped construction, while thelower and remaining portion of said member forms a shaft or spindleprojecting downward from said rectangular-shaped portion,

' and having a nut or button on the spindle,

and a spring encircling the spindle.

10. A bowling-alley ball having, in combination, a hole extendingaxially entirely through said ball, an extensible and retractable memberextending entirely through and movable within the said hole, and meansfor normally retaining the said member within the ball.

. 11. A bowling-alley ball having, in combination, a hole extendingaxially entirely through said ball, the upper portion of said hole beingof larger size and rectangular in shape, an extensible and retractablemember extending entirely through and movable Within the said hole, andmeans for normally retaining the said member within the ball.

12. A bowling-alley ball having, in combination, a hole extendingaxially entirely through said. ball, the upper portion of said holebeing of larger size and rectangular in shape, while the lower andremaining portion of said hole forms a circular chamber or bore ofdifferent diameters, an extensible and retractable member extendingentirely through and movable within the said hole, and means -l ornormally retaining the said member within the ball.

13. A bowling-alley ball having, in combi nation, a hole extendingaxially entirely through said ball, the upper portion of said hole beingof larger size and rectangular in shape, while the lower and remainingportion of said hole forms a circular chamber or bore of differentdiameters, an extensible and retractable member extending entirelythrough and movable within the said hole, the upper portion of saidmember forming a handle of a rectangular-frame-shaped construction, andmeans for normally retaining the handle within the upperrectangular-shaped portion of the hole. I

14. A bowling-alley ball having, in combination, a hole extendingaxially entirely through said ball, the upper portion of said hole beingof larger size and rectangular in shape, while the lower and remainingportion of said hole forms a circular chamber or bore of differentdiameters, an extensible and re tractable member extending entirelythrough and movable within the said hole, the upper portion or" saidmember forming a handle of a rectangularfra1neshaped construction, whilethe lower and remaining portion of said member forms a shaft or spindlelike projec- .tion movable within the circular portion of the hole, aspring encircling the spindle for normally retaining the handle withinthe ball, and a nut or button at the lower end of the spindle.

15. A bowling-alley ball having, in combination, a hole extendingaxially entirely through said ball, an extensible and retractable memberextending entirely through and movable within said hole, a dovetail slotin the uppermost portion of said member, a bushing secured to saidmember and within the slot, a spring encircling the lower portion of themovable member for normally retaining said member within the ball, and afinger nut or button for raising the member and for limiting its outwardmovement.

In witness that I claim the improvements described in the foregoingspecification I have signed my name, in the presence of two subscribingwitnesses, this 13th day of April, A. D. 1906.

CURTIS HOLLAND.

WVitnesses:

J A. TALBOTT, J. A. CARMIGHAEL.

